United States
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 20182019
 
Commission file number: 0-11104
 
NOBLE ROMANS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Indiana35-1281154
(State or other jurisdiction of organization)
(I.R.S. (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
One Virginia Avenue,6612 E. 75th Street, Suite 300
450Indianapolis, Indiana
46204 46250
(Address (Address of principal executive offices)(Zip (Zip Code)
                                                                                      
(317) 634-3377
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No ___
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically, and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes _X_ No___
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large Accelerated Filer __                                                                                                                      
Accelerated Filer __
Large Accelerated Filer   ____
Non-Accelerated Filer    ___
Emerging Growth Company    ____
 Accelerated Filer __
Non-Accelerated Filer __ (do not check if smaller reporting company) Smaller Reporting Company X

Emerging Growth Company __
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ____Act.
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (ascompany(as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes___ No _No_X_
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
N/AN/AN/A
As of May 10, 2018,13, 2019, there were 21,183,03221,683,032 shares of Common Stock, no par value, outstanding.
 

 
 
 
PARTPART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
ITEMITEM 1. Financial Statements
 
The following unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are included herein:
 
Condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2017 2018and March 31, 20182019 (unaudited)
Page 34
Condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three monthsthree-monthperiods ended March 31, 20172018 and 20182019 (unaudited)
Page 45
Condensed consolidated statements of changes in stockholders' equity for the three monthsthree-month periods ended March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018 (unaudited)
Page 56
Condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the three monthsthree-monthperiods ended March 31, 20172018 and 20182019 (unaudited)
Page 6
7
Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited)
Page 78


 
 

 
Noble Roman's, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
 
Assets
 
December 31,
 2017
 
 
 March 31,
 2018
 
 
December 31,
 2018
 
 
 March 31,
 2019
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash
 $461,068 
 $200,194 
 $76,194 
 $145,791 
Accounts receivable - net
  1,796,757 
  1,802,824 
  1,573,600 
  1,560,958 
Inventories
  779,989 
  793,164 
  962,783 
  929,698 
Prepaid expenses
  680,326 
  687,575 
  688,259 
  720,515 
Total current assets
  3,718,140 
  3,483,757 
  3,300,836 
  3,356,962 
    
    
Property and equipment:
    
    
Equipment
  2,533,848 
  2,804,169 
  2,872,494 
  2,878,293 
Leasehold improvements
  541,197 
  873,323 
  1,180,050 
  1,180,637 
Construction and equipment in progress
  558,602 
  359,002 
  119,340 
  109,815 
  3,673,647 
  4,036,494 
  4,171,844 
  4,168,745 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
  1,372,821 
  1,407,281 
  1,399,435 
  1,474,003 
Net property and equipment
  2,300,826 
  2,629,213 
  2,772,449 
  2,694,742 
Deferred tax asset
  5,735,504 
  5,598,912 
  4,817,309 
  4,666,910 
Deferred contract cost
  - 
  592,160 
  698,935 
Goodwill
  278,466 
  278,466 
Operating lease right of use assets
  - 
  4,475,106 
Other assets including long-term portion of receivables - net
  6,851,697 
  6,816,942 
  3,808,957 
  4,050,439 
Total assets
 $18,884,633 
 $19,399,450 
 $15,676,952 
 $20,221,560 
    
    
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
    
    
Current liabilities:
    
    
Current portion of term loan payable to bank
  754,173 
  793,452 
 $871,429 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
  674,600 
  539,675 
  523,315 
  253,271 
Current portion of operating lease liability
  - 
  312,739 
Total current liabilities
  1,428,773 
  1,333,127 
  1,394,744 
  1,437,439 
    
    
Long-term obligations:
    
    
Term loans payable to bank (net of current portion)
  4,246,375 
  4,048,915 
  3,898,733 
  3,705,579 
Convertible notes payable
  1,131,982 
  2,131,750 
  1,539,204 
  1,496,906 
Operating lease liabilities - net of short-term portion
  - 
  4,263,420 
Deferred contract income
  - 
  592,160 
  698,935 
Derivative warrant liability
  503,851 
  - 
Derivative conversion liability
  925,561 
  - 
Total long-term liabilities
  6,807,769 
  6,772,825 
  6,136,872 
  10,164,840 
    
    
Stockholders' equity:
    
    
Common stock – no par value (40,000,000 shares authorized, 20,783,032
issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 20,983,032
as of March 31, 2018)
  24,322,885 
  24,726,636 
Common stock – no par value (40,000,000 shares authorized,
21,583,032 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2018 and
21,683,032 as of March 31, 2019)
  24,739,482 
  24,789,482 
Accumulated deficit
  (13,674,794)
  (13,433,138)
  (16,594,146)
  (16,170,201)
Total stockholders' equity
  10,648,091 
  11,293,498 
  8,145,336 
  8,619,281 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 $18,884,633 
 $19,399,450 
 $15,676,952 
 $20,221,560 
    
    
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).
 

 
Noble Roman's, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 Three months ended
 March 31,
 
 
 
 2017
 
 
 2018
 
Revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Royalties and fees
 $1,612,920 
 $1,541,879 
    Administrative fees and other
  12,069 
  14,245 
    Restaurant revenue – Craft Pizza & Pub
  306,311 
  1,108,423 
    Restaurant revenue – non-traditional
  281,318 
  288,116 
               Total revenue
  2,212,618 
  2,952,663 
 
    
    
Operating expenses:
    
    
     Salaries and wages
  239,707 
  267,968 
     Trade show expense
  121,656 
  120,772 
     Travel expense
  60,295 
  21,939 
     Other operating expenses
  198,690 
  238,417 
     Restaurant expenses - Craft Pizza & Pub
  213,146 
  865,499 
     Restaurant expenses – non-traditional
  273,373 
  283,856 
Depreciation and amortization
  51,893 
  72,503 
General and administrative
  404,472 
  382,280 
              Total expenses
  1,563,232 
  2,253,234 
              Operating income
  649,386 
  699,429 
 
    
    
Interest
  320,994 
  160,288 
Change in fair value of derivatives
  17,627 
 - 
              Income before income taxes
  310,765 
  539,141 
 
    
    
Income tax expense
  118,222 
  136,592 
              Net income
 $192,543 
 $402,549 
 
    
    
 
    
    
Earnings per share – basic:
    
    
     Net income
 $.01 
 $.02 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
  20,783,032 
  20,869,689 
 
    
    
 
    
    
Diluted earnings per share:
    
    
     Net income
 $.01 
 $.02 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
  25,419,967 
  26,389,740 
 
 
 Three-Months Ended
 March 31,
 
 
 
 2018
 
 
  2019
 
Revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Restaurant revenue - company-owned Craft Pizza & Pub
 $1,108,423 
 $1,142,614 
    Restaurant revenue - company-owned non-traditional
  288,116 
  170,502 
    Franchising revenue - non-traditional
  1,541,879 
  1,593,014 
    Administrative fees and other
  14,245 
  16,619 
               Total revenue
  2,952,663 
  2,922,749 
 
    
    
Operating expenses:
    
    
     Restaurant expenses - company-owned Craft Pizza & Pub
  865,499 
  1,010,919 
     Restaurant expenses - company-owned non-traditional
  283,856 
  153,709 
     Franchising expenses - non-traditional
  649,096 
  494,712 
              Total operating expenses
  1,798,451 
  1,659,340 
 
    
    
Depreciation and amortization
  72,503 
  93,600 
General and administrative expenses
  382,280 
  416,248 
             Total expenses
  2,253,234 
  2,169,188 
             Operating income
  699,429 
  753,561 
 
    
    
Interest expense
  160,288 
  126,903 
     Income before income taxes
  539,141 
  626,658 
Income tax expense
  136,592 
  150,398 
            Net income
 $402,549 
 $476,260 
 
    
    
Earnings per share - basic
    
    
     Net income
 $.02 
 $.02 
Weighted average number of common shares
     outstanding
  20,869,689 
  21,671,921 
 
    
    
Diluted earnings per share:
    
    
    Net income
 $.02 
 $.02 
Weighted average number of common shares
     outstanding
  26,389,740 
  25,584,889 
 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 
Noble Roman's, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in
Stockholders' Equity
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
 
Accumulated
 
    
 
   Shares 
 
Amount
 
 
Deficit
 
 
 Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2017
  20,783,032 
 $24,322,885 
 $(13,674,794)
 $10,648,091 
 
    
    
    
    
Remove derivatives in accordance with ASU 2017-11
    
  303,751 
  (160,893)
  142,858 
 
    
    
    
    
Net income for three months ended March 31, 2018
    
    
  402,549 
  402,549 
 
    
    
    
    
Conversion of convertible note to common stock
  200,000 
  100,000 
  - 
  100,000 
 
    
    
    
    
Balance at March 31, 2018
  20,983,032 
 $24,726,636 
 $(13,433,138)
 $11,293,498 
Quarter Ended March 31, 2019:
 
 
Common Stock
Shares Amount
 
 
Accumulated
Deficit
 
 
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2018
  21,583,032 
 $24,739,482 
 $(16,594,146)
 $8,145,336 
 
    
    
    
    
Adjustment for the adoption of
   ASU 2016-02 accounting for leases
    
    
  (52,315)
  (52,315)
 
    
    
    
    
Net income for three months ended
   March 31, 2019
    
    
  476,260 
  476,260 
 
    
    
    
    
Conversion of convertible note
    to common stock
  100,000 
  50,000 
  - 
  50,000 
 
    
    
    
    
Balance at March 31, 2019
  21,683,032 
 $24,789,482 
 $(16,170,201)
 $8,619,281
Quarter Ended March 31, 2018:
 
 
Common Stock
 Shares  Amount
 
 
Accumulated
Deficit
 
 
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2017
  20,783,032 
 $24,322,885 
 $(13,674,794)
 $10,648,091 
 
    
    
    
    
Remove derivatives in accordance
   with ASU 2017-11
    
  303,751 
  (160,893)
  142,858 
 
    
    
    
    
Net income for three months ended
  March 31, 2018
    
    
  402,549 
  402,549 
 
    
    
    
    
Conversion of convertible note
    to common stock
  200,000 
  100,000 
  - 
  100,000 
 
    
    
    
    
Balance at March 31, 2018
  20,983,032 
 $24,726,636 
 $(13,433,138)
 $11,293,498 
 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).
 

Noble Roman's, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2018
 
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
     Net income
 $192,543 
 $402,549 
     Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided (used) by operating activities:
    
    
              Depreciation and amortization
  124,880 
  106,781
 
              Deferred income taxes
  118,222 
  136,592 
              Change in fair value of derivatives
  17,627 
  - 
              Other non-cash expense
  24,526 
  - 
              Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
    
    
                ( Increase) decrease in:
    
    
                      Accounts receivable
  (196,605)
  (6,067)
                      Inventories
  (92,452)
  (13,173)
                      Prepaid expenses
  (72,285)
  (7,249)
                      Other assets
  (111,295)
  34,755 
                 Decrease in:
    
    
                     Accounts payable and accrued expenses
  (68,417)
  (119,926)
               NET CASH PROVIDED (USED) IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES
  (63,256)
  534,262
 
 
    
    
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
    
    
     Purchase of property and equipment
  (213,555)
  (605,705)
              NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
  (213,555)
  (605,705)
 
    
    
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
    
    
     Payment of principal on bank term loan
  (163,931)
  (160,714)
     Payment of additional closing cost
  - 
  (13,717)
     Payment of principal on Super G loan
  (176,775)
  - 
     Payment of Kingsway America loan
  (600,000)
  - 
     Net proceeds from (repayment of) officer notes
  424,166 
  - 
     Net proceeds from issuance of convertible notes
  674,832 
  - 
              NET CASH PROVIDED (USED) BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
  158,292 
  (174,431)
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
    
    
     Payment of obligations from discontinued operations
  (72,308)
  (15,000)
 
    
    
Decrease in cash
  (190,827)
  (260,874)
Cash at beginning of period
  477,928 
  461,068 
Cash at end of period
 $287,101 
 $200,194 
 
 
   Three Months Ended March 31,
 
OPERATING ACTIVITIES 
 
2018
 
 
2019 
 
     Net income
 $402,549 
 $476,260 
     Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
     provided by operating activities:
    
    
              Depreciation and amortization
  106,781 
  126,005 
              Amortization of lease cost in excess of cash paid in accordance
                  with ASU 2016-02
  - 
  11,897 
Deferred income taxes
  136,592 
  150,398 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
    
    
(Increase) decrease in:
    
    
Accounts receivable
  (6,067)
  12,642 
 Inventories
  (13,173)
  13,085 
 Prepaid expenses
  (7,249)
  (32,526)
Other assets including long-term portion of receivables
  34,755 
  (178,450)
 Increase (decrease) in:
    
    
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
  (119,926)
  (275,967)
               NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
  534,262 
  303,344 
 
    
    
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
    
    
     Purchase of property and equipment
  (605,705)
  (15,890)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
  (605,705)
  (15,890)
 
    
    
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
    
    
     Payment of principal on bank term loans
  (160,714)
  (217,857)
     Payment of additional closing costs
  (13,717)
  - 
NET CASH USED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
  (174,431)
  (217,857)
 
    
    
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Payment of obligations from discontinued operations
  (15,000)
  - 
 
    
    
Increase (decrease) in cash
  (260,874)
  69,597 
Cash at beginning of period
  461,068 
  76,194 
Cash at end of period
 $200,194 
 $145,791 
 
Supplemental schedule of investing and financing activities
Cash paid for interest
$197,138
 $136,420 
$135,123
 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).
 

 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
 
Note 1 - The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements, included herein, have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These condensed consolidated statements have been prepared in accordance with the Company’s accounting policies described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20172018 and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in that report. Unless the context indicates otherwise, references to the “Company” mean Noble Roman’s, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
Significant Accounting Policies
There have been no significant changes in the Company's accounting policies form those disclosed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K except for those policies described below in relation to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842).
The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in right-of-use assets ("ROU"), and lease liability obligations are included in the Company's balance sheets. ROU assets represent the Company's right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liability obligations represent its obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As the Company's leases typically do not provide an implicit rate, the Company estimates its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The Company uses the implicit rate when readily determinable. The ROU asset also includes in the lease payments made excludes lease incentives and lease direct costs. The Company's lease term may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
 
In the opinion of the management of the Company, the information contained herein reflects all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented and the financial condition as of the dates indicated, which adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The results for the three-month period ended March 31, 20182019 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year ending December 31, 2018.2019.
 
Note 2 – Royalties and fees included $55,500 and $60,500initial franchise fees of $69,500 for the three-month periodsperiod ended March 31, 20172018, and 2018, respectively, of amortized initial franchise fees.$94,500 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2019. Royalties and fees included $8,382 and $18,561equipment commissions of $24,500 for the three-month periodsperiod ended March 31, 20172018, and 2018, respectively, of equipment commissions.$20,000 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2019. Royalties and fees, less amortized initial amortized franchise fees and equipment commissions, were $1,549,038 and $1,462,818$1.4 million for the three-month periodsperiod ended March 31, 20172018, and 2018, respectively.$1.5 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2019. Most of the cost for the services required to be performed by the Company are incurred prior to the franchise fee income being recorded, which is based on a contractual liability forof the franchisee.
 
In accordance with ASU(ASU) 2014-09, the Company adopted revenue and expense recognition as described in ASU 2014-09 effective January 2018. Initial franchise fees and related contract costs are deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the franchise agreement, generally five to 10 years.
 
The effect to comparable periods within the financial statements is not material as the initial franchise fee for the non-traditional franchise is intended to defray the initial contract costs, and the franchisee fees and contract costs initially incurred and paid approximate the relative amortized franchise fees and contract costs for those same periods.
 
The deferred contract income and costs both approximated $592,000$699,000 on DecemberMarch 31, 2017.2019.
 
At December 31, 20172018 and March 31, 2018,2019, the Company reported net accounts receivable from franchisees of $7.6$4.4 million at both datesand $4.6 million, respectively, which were both net of allowances of $1.5$4.3 million.
 
There were 2,8542,894 franchises/licenses in operation on December 31, 20172018 and 2,8712,899 franchises/licenses in operation on March 31, 2018.2019. During the three-month period ended March 31, 2018,2019, there were 19eight new outlets opened and twothree outlets closed. In the ordinary course, grocery stores from time to time add our licensed products, remove them and may subsequently re-offer them. Therefore, it is unknown how many of the 2,0982,263 licensed grocery store units included in the counts above have left the system.
 

 
Note 3 - The following table sets forth the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three-month period ended March 31, 2017:2018:
 
 
 Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
 
 
 Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
 
 
 Income
(Numerator)
 
 
 Shares
(Denominator)
 
 
Per-Share
Amount
 
 
 Income
(Numerator)
 
 
 Shares
(Denominator)
 
 
Per-Share
Amount
 
Net income
 $192,543 
  20,783,032 
 $.01 
 $402,549 
  20,869,689 
 $.02 
    
    
Effect of dilutive securities
    
    
Options and warrants
  - 
  248,046 
  - 
  - 
  920,051 
    
Convertible notes
  - 
  4,388,889 
  - 
  65,168 
  4,600,000 
 
____
 
    
    
Diluted earnings per share
    
    
Net income per share with assumed conversions
 $192,543 
  25,419,967 
 $.01 
 $467,717 
  26,389,740 
 $.02 
 
The following table sets forth the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three-month period ended March 31, 2018:2019:
 
 
 Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
 
 
 Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
 
 
 Income
(Numerator)
 
 
 Shares
(Denominator)
 
 
Per-Share
Amount
 
 
 Income
(Numerator)
 
 
 Shares
(Denominator)
 
 
Per-Share
Amount
 
Net income
 $402,549 
  20,869,689 
 $.02 
 $476,260
  21,671,921 
 $.02 
    
    
Effect of dilutive securities
    
    
Options and warrants
  - 
  920,051 
    
  - 
  1,857 
    
Convertible notes
  65,168 
  4,600,000 
 
____
 
  48,750 
  3,911,111 
 
____
 
    
    
Diluted earnings per share
    
    
Net income per share with assumed conversions
 $467,717 
  26,389,740 
 $.02 
 $525,010
  25,584,889 
 $.02 
 
 
Note 4 – In 2016 and 2017, the Company conducted a private placement (the "Offering")-Other assets as of convertible notes ("Notes") and warrants ("Warrants")March 31, 2019, include security deposits of $13,600, cash surrender value of life insurance in the amount of $2.4 million principal$199,000, long-term franchisee receivables in the amount of Notes and Warrants to purchase up to 2.4$3.7 million shares of the Company's common stock. The accounting treatment of derivative financial instruments formerly required that the Company record these instruments at their fair values as of the inception date of the agreement and at fair value as of each subsequent balance sheet date. Any change in fair value was recorded as non-operating, non-cash income or expense for each reporting period at each balance sheet date. The Company reassessed the classification of its derivative instruments at each balance sheet date. If the classification changed aswhich is net after a result of events during the period, the contract was reclassified as of the date of the event that caused the reclassification.$4.0 million valuation allowance.
 
Long-term receivable from franchisees represent receivables from approximately 80 different non-traditional franchisees (Noble Roman’s franchises located within a host facility). These receivables originated from a variety of circumstances, including where audits of a number of the non-traditional franchises’ reporting of sales found them to be underreporting their sales and, therefore, underpaying their royalty obligations. In July 2017,other instances, some franchisees were selling non-Noble Roman’s products under the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Updates ("ASU") 2017-11, which simplifies the accounting for certain accounting instruments with down round features. This update changes the classification analysis of certain equity-linked financial instruments such as warrants and embedded conversion features such that a down round feature is disregarded when assessing whether the instrument is indexed to an entity's own stock. As a result of this change in the quarter ended March 31, 2018,Noble Roman’s trademark. In addition, some receivables arose from the Company removed allincurring legal fees to enforce the franchise agreements and other collection costs totaling approximately $2.4 million which adds to the receivables in accordance with the agreements and some of the derivative accounting from its financial statements resulting in a gain of $142,858 recognized as a cumulative adjustment to retained earnings on January 1, 2018.

Placement agent fees and other origination costreceivables were generated by early termination of the Notesfranchise agreements. These receivables have been classified as long-term since collections are deducted from the carrying value of the Notes, as original issue discount (“OID”). The OID is amortizedexpected to extend over the term of the Notes.more than a one-year cycle.
 
Note 5 - The Company evaluated subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued and filed with SEC. There were no subsequent events that required recognition or disclosure beyond what is disclosed in this report except: 1) on April 13, 2018 a holder of a $100,000 Note converted that Note into 200,000 share of the Company's common stock in accordance with its term, 2) the Company signed a 10 year lease for a fourth Company operated Craft Pizza & Pub location in Carmel, Indiana which is expected to open in late May 2018 and extended the lease on the corporate office from March 31, 2018 until June 30, 2018 while looking for a new corporate office space.report.

 
ITEM 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
     Operations
 
General Information
 
Noble Roman’s, Inc., an Indiana corporation incorporated in 1972, sells and services pizza-focused foodservice franchises and licenses and operates Company-owned foodservice locations for non-traditional foodservice operations and stand-alone restaurants under the trade namesname “Noble Roman’s Craft Pizza & Pub”,Pub,” “Noble Roman’s Pizza,” “Noble Roman’s Take-N-Bake,” and “Tuscano’s Italian Style Subs.”Subs”. It also currently operates one Company-owned non-traditional Noble Roman's Pizza location in a hospital and four Company-owned Craft Pizza & Pub restaurants. The Company's concepts’ hallmarks includefeature high quality fresh pizza, pasta and salads along with other related menu items, simple operating systems, fast service times, attractive food costs and overall affordability.
 
For more rapidTo facilitate accelerated growth in the future, revenue, in 2017 the Company began adding Company-owned Craft Pizza & Pub locations to its business plan in 2017 and also intends to add franchisedhas now begun franchising Craft Pizza & Pub locations primarilyon a limited basis to qualified multi-unit operators. The Craft Pizza & Pub added significant revenue and is expected to add much more in future years. The Company opened two Craft Pizza & Pub locations in 2017 a thirdand added two additional locations in 2018. In 2018, the Company added $4.8 million in revenue from the Company-owned Craft Pizza & Pub locations which had an operating margin contribution to Noble Roman's in excess of $900,000. The first franchised Craft Pizza & Pub opened on May 2, 2019 in Lafayette, Indiana with record-breaking sales volumes. One other franchise location in January 2018 and has a fourthis under development with plans to open it in late May 2018.an anticipated opening occuring during the Fall of 2019. Since 1997, the Company had concentrated its efforts and resources primarily on franchising and licensing non-traditional locations and has awarded franchise and/or license agreements in all 50 states. The Company is continuing its focus on franchising/franchising and licensing non-traditional locations even though it added focus on Craft Pizza & Pub.and currently has a significant backlog of franchises sold but not yet opened, combined with an active base of qualified prospects for additional locations.
 
Pizzaco, Inc. currently owns and operates two Company-owned non-traditional locations, RH Roanoke, Inc. operates a Company-owned non-traditional location in a hospital and Noble Roman’s, Inc. owns and operates threefour Craft Pizza & Pub locations with a fourth under development and scheduled to open in late May 2018.locations. The Company intends to use its Craft Pizza & Pub locations as a base to support the franchising and continued future growth of that concept.
 
References in this report to the “Company” and to "Noble Roman's" are to Noble Roman’s, Inc. and its threetwo wholly-owned subsidiaries, Pizzaco, Inc., N.R. Realty, Inc. and RH Roanoke, Inc., unless the context indicates otherwise.

 
Noble Roman’s Craft Pizza & Pub
 
Noble Roman's Craft Pizza & Pub is intended to provide a fun, pleasant atmosphere serving pizza and other related menu items, all made freshto order using fresh ingredients in the view of the customers. In January 2017, the Noble Roman’s Craft Pizza & Pub opened its first Company-owned restaurant in Westfield, Indiana, a prosperous and growing community on the northwest side of Indianapolis. Since that time twothree additional Craft Pizza & Pubs have been opened as Company-owned restaurants with a fourth location under development.restaurants. Noble Roman’s Craft Pizza & Pub is designed to harken back to the Company’s early history when it was known simply as “Pizza Pub.” Like then, and like the new full-service pizza concepts today, ordering takes place at the counter and food runners deliver orders to the dining room for dine-in guests. The Company believes that Noble Roman’s Craft Pizza & Pub features many enhancements over the current competitive landscape. The restaurant features two styles of hand-crafted, made-from-scratch pizzas with a selection of 40 different toppings, cheeses and sauces from which to choose. Beer and wine also are featured, with 16 different beers on tap including both national and local craft selections. Wines include 16 high quality, affordably priced options by the bottle or glass in a range of varietals. Beer and wine service is provided at the bar and throughout the dining room.
 
The pizza offerings feature Noble Roman’s traditional hand-crafted thinner crust as well as its signature deep-dish Sicilian crust. After extensive research and development, the system has been designed to enable fast cook times, with oven speeds running approximately 2.5 minutes for traditional pies and 5.75 minutes for Sicilian pies. Traditional pizza favorites such as pepperoni are options on the menu, but also offered is a selection of Craft Pizza & Pub original creations like "Swims With Thewith the Fishes" and "Pizza Marguerita"Margherita". The menu also features a selection of contemporary and fresh, made-to-order salads and fresh-cooked pasta. In addition, the menu includes baked subs, hand-sauced wings and a selection of desserts, as well as Noble Roman’s famous Breadsticks with Spicy Cheese Sauce.
 
Additional enhancements include a glass enclosed “Dough Room” where Noble Roman’s Dough Masters hand make all pizza and breadstick dough from scratch in customer view. Also in the dining room is a “Dusting“Dust & Drizzle Station” where guests can customize their pizzas after they are baked with a variety of toppingscondiments and drizzles, such as rosemary-infused olive oil, honey and Italian spices. Kids and adults enjoy Noble Roman’s self-serve root beer tap, which is also part of a special menu for customers 12 and younger. Throughout the dining room and the bar area there are a large number of giant screen television monitors for sports and the nostalgic black and white shorts featured in Noble Roman’s earlier days.
 
Noble Roman’s Pizza Forfor Non-Traditional Locations
Noble Roman's franchised and licensed non-traditional locations are designed to bring high-quality, pizza-focused foodservice into underlying establishments that have a captive audience or high customer counts associated with their business. Examples of these venues include convenience stores, hospitals, entertainment facilities, military bases, bowling centers and other similar facilities. Noble Roman's, for non-traditional locations, range in scope from relatively small operations focused on quick meals and impulse food purchases to elaborate, full-scale restaurant operations depending on the facility and the goals of the individual franchisee or licensee.
 
The hallmark of Noble Roman’s Pizza for non-traditional locations is “Superior quality that our customers can taste.” Every ingredient and process has been designed with a view to produce superior results.
 
A fully-prepared pizza crust that captures the made-from-scratch pizzeria flavor which gets delivered to non-traditional locations in a shelf-stable condition so that dough handling is no longer an impediment to a consistent product, which otherwise is a challenge in non-traditional locations.
Fresh packed, uncondensed and never cookedpre-cooked sauce made with secret spices parmesan cheese and vine-ripened tomatoes in all venues.

100% real cheese blended from mozzarella and Muenster, with no soy additives or extenders.
100% real meat toppings, with no additives or extenders, a distinction compared to many pizza concepts.
Vegetable and mushroom toppings are sliced and delivered fresh, never canned.
An extended product line that includes breadsticks and cheesy stix with dip, pasta, baked sandwiches, salads, wings and a line of breakfast products.
The fully-prepared crust also forms the basis for the Company's Take-N-Bake pizza for use as an add-on component for its non-traditional franchise base as well as an offering for its grocery store license venue.
 

Tuscano’s Italian Style Subs
 
Tuscano’s Italian Style Subs is a separate non-traditional location concept that focuses on sub sandwich menu items but only in locations that also have a Noble Roman’s franchise. The ongoing royalty for a Tuscano’s franchise is identical to that charged for a Noble Roman’s Pizza franchise.
 
Business Strategy
 
The Company is focused on revenue expansion while continuing to minimize overhead and other costs. To accomplish this the Company will continue owning and operating a core of Craft Pizza & Pub locations and develop what it believes to be a large growth opportunity by franchising primarily towith qualified multi-unit franchisees. At the same time, the Company will continue to focus on franchising/licensing for non-traditional locations, especially convenience stores and entertainment centers and licensing to grocery stores.centers.
 
Business Operations
 
Distribution
 
The Company’s proprietary ingredients are manufactured pursuant to the Company’s recipes and formulasspecifications by third-party manufacturers under contracts between the Company and its various manufacturers. These contracts require the manufacturers to produce ingredients meeting the Company’s specifications and to sell them to Company-approved third-party distributors at prices negotiated between the Company and the manufacturer.
 
At present, the Company has primarythird-party distributors strategically located throughout the United States. The distributor agreements require the primary distributors to maintain adequate inventories of all ingredients necessary to meet the needs of the Company’s franchisees and licensees in their distribution areas for weekly deliveries to the franchisee/licensee locations and to its grocery store distributors in their respective territories. Each of the primary distributors purchases the ingredients from the manufacturermanufacturers at prices negotiated between the Company and the manufacturers, but under payment terms agreed upon by the manufacturermanufacturers and the distributor,distributors, and distributes the ingredients to the franchisee/licensee at a price determined by the distributor agreement. Payment terms to the distributor are agreed upon between each franchisee/licensee and the respective distributor. In addition, the Company has agreements with numerous grocery store distributors located in various parts of the country which agree to buy the Company’s ingredients from one of the Company’s primary distributors and to distribute those ingredients only to their grocery store customers who have signed license agreements with the Company.
 

Franchising
 
The Company sells franchises for both non-traditional and traditional locations.
 
The initial franchise fees are as follows:
 
Franchise Format
 
Non-Traditional, Except Hospitals
 
 
Hospitals
 
 
Craft Pizza
 & Pub
 
Non-Traditional, Except Hospitals
 
Hospitals
Craft Pizza
& Pub
Noble Roman’s Pizza
 $7,500 
 $10,000 
 $30,000(1)
$ 7,500$10,000$30,000 (1)
 
(1) With the sale of multiple traditional stand-alone franchises to a single franchisee, the franchise fee for the first unit is $30,000, the franchise fee for the second unit is $25,000 and the franchise fee for the third unit and any additional unit is $20,000. The Company has not yet begun selling any franchises for the Craft Pizza & Pub.
 
The franchise fees are paid upon signing the franchise agreement and, when paid, are non-refundable in consideration of the administration and other expenses incurred by the Company in granting the franchises and for the lost and/or deferred opportunities to grant such franchises to any other party.

 
Licensing
 
Noble Roman’s Take-n-Bake Pizza licenses for grocery stores are governed by a supply agreement. The supply agreement generally requires the licensee to: (1) purchase proprietary ingredients only from a Noble Roman’s-approved distributor; (2) assemble the products using only Noble Roman’s approved ingredients and recipes; and (3) display products in a manner approved by Noble Roman’s using Noble Roman’s point-of-sale marketing materials. Pursuant to the distributor agreements, the primary distributors place an additional mark-up, as determined by the Company, above their normal selling price on the key ingredients as a fee for the Company in lieu of royalty. The distributors agree to segregate this additional mark-up upon invoicing the licensee, to hold the fees in trust for the Company and to remit them to the Company within ten days after the end of each month.
 
Financial Summary
 
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from those estimates. The Company periodically evaluates the carrying values of its assets, including property, equipment and related costs, accounts receivable and deferred tax assets, to assess whether any impairment indications are present due to (among other factors) recurring operating losses, significant adverse legal developments, competition, changes in demand for the Company’s products or changes in the business climate which affect the recovery of recorded value. If any impairment of an individual asset is evident, a charge will be provided to reduce the carrying value to its estimated fair value.
 
The following table sets forth the percentagerevenue, expense and margin contribution of the Company's Craft Pizza & Pub venue and the percent relationship to totalits revenue:
 
Description
 
Three Months ended March 31,
2018 2019
 
Revenue
 $1,108,423 
  100%
 $1,142,614 
  100%
Cost of sales
  245,036 
  22.1 
  237,675 
  20.8 
Salaries and wages
  349,124 
  31.5 
  365,981 
  32.0 
Facility cost including rent, common area and utilities
  174,835 
  15.8 
  200,607 
  17.6
Packaging
  28,970 
  2.6 
  41,318 
  3.6 
All other operating expenses
  67,534 
  6.1 
  165,338 
  14.5 
Total expenses
  865,499 
  78.1 
  1,010,919 
  88.5 
Margin contribution
 $242,924 
  21.9%
 $131,695 
  11.5%
Margin contribution from this venue was decreased $11,897 for non-cash expense related to the adoption of ASU 2016-02 accounting for lease which became effective after January 1, 2019 for publicly reporting companies.
The following table sets forth the revenue, expense and margin contribution of the listed items included in Noble Roman’s consolidated statements of operations forCompany's non-traditional franchising venue and the three-month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively.percent relationship to its revenue:
 
Description
 
Three Months ended March 31,
2018  2019
 
Royalties and fees non-traditional franchising
 $1,108,658 
  71.9%
 $1,287,178 
  80.8%
Royalties and fees non-traditional grocery
  433,221 
  28.1 
  305,836 
  19.2 
Total non-traditional revenue
  1,541,879 
  100.0 
  1,593,014 
  100.0 
Salaries and wages
  267,968 
  17.4 
  195,626 
  12.3 
Trade show expense
  120,772 
  7.8 
  105,094 
  6.6 
Insurance
  74,749 
  4.8 
  109,924 
  6.9 
Travel and auto
  47,833 
  3.1 
  27,549 
  1.7 
All other operating expenses
  137,774 
  8.9 
  56,519
  3.5 
Total expenses
  649,096 
  42.0 
  494,712
  31.0 
Margin contribution
 $892,783 
  58.0%
 $1,098,302
  69.0%
 

 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2018
 
Royalties and fees
  72.9%
  52.2%
Administrative fees and other
  .6 
  .5 
Restaurant revenue – Craft Pizza & Pub
  13.8 
  37.5 
Restaurant revenue – non-traditional
  12.7 
  9.8 
     Total revenue
  100.0%
  100.0%
Operating expenses:
    
    
     Salaries and wages
  10.8 
  9.1 
     Trade show expense
  5.5 
  4.1 
     Travel expense
  2.7 
  .7 
     Other operating expense
  9.0 
  8.1 
     Restaurant expenses – Craft Pizza & Pub
  9.6 
  29.3 
     Restaurant expenses – non-traditional
  12.4 
  9.6 
Depreciation and amortization
  2.4 
  2.5 
General and administrative
  18.3 
  12.9 
     Total expenses
  70.7 
  76.3 
     Operating income
  29.3 
  23.7 
Interest
  14.5 
  5.4 
Change in fair value of derivatives
  .8 
  - 
     Income before income taxes
  14.0 
  18.3 
Income tax
  5.3 
  4.6 
     Net income
  8.7%
  13.7%
The following table sets forth the revenue, expense and margin contribution of the Company-owned non-traditional venue and the percent relationship to its revenue:
 
Description
 
Three Months ended March 31,
2018  2019
 
Revenue
 $288,116 
  100%
 $170,502 
  100%
Cost of sales
  98,765 
  34.3 
  63,947 
  37.5 
Salaries and wages
  121,688 
  42.2 
  53,791 
  31.5 
Rent
  28,999 
  10.1 
  16,165 
  9.5 
Packaging
  9,200 
  3.2 
  4,879 
  2.9 
All other operating expenses
  25,204 
  8.7 
  14,927 
  8.7 
Total expenses
  283,856 
  98.5 
  153,709 
  90.1 
Margin contribution
 $4,260 
  1.5%
 $16,793 
  9.9%
 
Results of Operations
 
Company-Owned Craft Pizza & Pub
The revenue from this venue grew from $1.11 million to $1.14 million primarily because of an additional restaurant opened in June 2018, however that was mostly offset by highly unusual and extreme winter weather conditions in Indiana during the months of January and February 2019. Total revenue in January was $337,000, in February $356,000 and in March $450,000. Revenue increased with the return of more normal weather conditions experienced in March.
Cost of sales improved to 20.8% compared to 22.1% in the comparable period last year. This improvement was the result of gained efficiency as the restaurants matured and as the staff gained experience.
Salaries, wages and other operating costs increased from $2.256.0% to 67.7% as a result of low revenue in January and February due to weather, as explained in the paragraph above.
Gross margin contribution decreased from 21.9% to 11.5% for the quarter compared to the comparable period last year as a result of the impact of severe winter weather on revenue, as explained above. The actual gross margin contribution in January was 4.0%, in February was 10.8% and in March was 20.5%, as revenue trended to normal levels with the return of more normal weather conditions experienced in March. The non-cash expense for adopting to ASU 2016-02 accounting for operating leases, which became effective after January 1, 2019 for publicly reporting companies, decreased the margin from 12.6% to 11.5%.
Franchising Non-Traditional Locations
Total revenue from this venue grew from $1.5 million to $3.0$1.6 million in the three-month period ended March 31, 2019 compared to the comparable period in 2018. Royalties and fees from non-traditional franchising grew from $1.1 million to $1.3 million, which was partially offset by a decrease in fees from non-traditional grocery store take-n-bake, which decreased from $400,000 to $300,000. The increase in royalties and fees from non-traditional franchising was the result of adding new locations and some openings in different regions of the country which reported higher than average volumes. The decrease in fees from non-traditional grocery store take-n-bake reflected the Company's decision to not focus on the grocery stores at this time because that venue tends to be counter-cyclical and is more effective in a weaker economy. Since 2014, the Company has periodically audited the reporting of sales for computing royalties by non-traditional franchisees and plans to continue to do so periodically in the future, the effect of which is unknown. When the audits are performed, the Company estimates franchise sales based on product purchases as reflected on distributor reports and, where under-reporting is identified, the Company has invoiced franchisees on the unreported amounts.
Salaries and wages, trade show expense and other operating costs decreased from $649,000 to $495,000 for the three-month period ended March 31, 20182019 compared to the comparable period in 2017. One-time fees, franchisee fees2018. In January, the Company reviewed this venue in depth to find ways to minimize costs and equipment commissions (“upfront fees”)accomplish its missions with fewer people and lower costs in general. These efforts are reflected in the $154,000 in decreased expenses during the three-month period ended March 31, 2019 and are expected to benefit results in future quarters.
Gross margin contribution from this venue increased to 69% from $64,00058% in the three-month period ended March 31, 2019 compared to $79,000the comparable period in 2018.
Company-Owned Non-Traditional Locations
Gross revenue from this venue decreased to $171,000 from $288,000 in the three-month period ended March 31, 2019 compared to the comparable period in 2018. The primary reason for this decrease was the Company operating three non-traditional locations in the three-month period ended March 31, 2018 compared to one location in the comparablethree-month period ended March 31, 2019. The two locations vacated in 2017. Royalties and fees less upfront fees remainedDecember 2018 were locations that the same at $1.5 millionCompany was only operating to the end of their contract terms. The Company does not intend to operate any more Company-owned non-traditional locations except the one location that it is currently operating.


Comparing the various expenses is not meaningful since they reflected different types of non-traditional locations. The total expenses were $154,000 for the three-month period ended March 31, 20182019 compared to $284,000 for the comparable period in 2017.2018. The breakdown of royalties and fees, less upfront fees,primary reason for this decrease was two fewer locations operated by the three-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, were as follows: royalties and fees from non-traditional franchises other than grocery stores were $1.0 million and $1.0 million; fees from the grocery store take-n-bake locations were $404,000 and $462,000; royalties and fees from traditional locations were $55,000 and $57,000; and royalties and fees from stand-alone take-n-bake locations were $0 and $17,000, reflecting the discontinuation of that venue.
Restaurant revenue – Craft Pizza & Pub was $1.1 millionCompany in the three-month period ended March 31, 20182019 compared to $306,000 for the comparable period in 2017. This increase reflected the growth in Craft Pizza & Pub locations. The first unit opened on January 31, 2017, the second unit on November 17, 2017 and a third unit on January 18, 2018.
 
Restaurant revenue – Company-operated non-traditionalGross margin contribution from this venue increased to 9.9% from $281,000 to $288,000 for1.5% in the three-month period ended March 31, 20182019 compared to the correspondingcomparable period in 2017. The reason for2018. As discussed above, two of the increase was same store sales increases.locations being operated in 2018 were only being operated to the end of their contract terms.
 

SalariesDepreciation and wages decreasedamortization increased from 10.8%2.5% of total revenue to 9.1%3.2% of total revenue for the three-month period ended March 31, 20182019 compared to the corresponding periods in 2018. The primary reason for the increase was the new Craft Pizza & Pub locations that opened in January 2018 and June 2018. Actual depreciation and amortization expense was $93,600 in the period ended March 31, 2019 compared to $72,503 for the corresponding period in 2017. Salaries and wages increased from $240,000 to $268,000. The percentage decrease was the result of increased revenues and the increase in salaries and wages was primarily the result of adding two sales people to support planned growth in franchise sales, which increase was partially offset by other reductions in salaries and wages.2018.
 
Trade showGeneral and administrative expenses decreasedincreased from 5.5%12.9% of total revenue to 4.1%14.2% of total revenue for the three-month period ended March 31, 20182019 compared to the corresponding period in 2017. Trade show2018. General and administrative expenses increased from $382,000 to $416,000. The increase was largely the result of audit and other professional expenses increasing by $34,000.
Operating income increased from $699,000 to $754,000 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2019 compared to the corresponding period in 2018. Operating income increased primarily due to franchising non-traditional locations increasing from $900,000 to $1.1 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2019 compared to the corresponding period in 2018, but partially offset by the decrease in margin contribution from the Company-owned Craft Pizza & Pub locations primarily due to the record breaking severe winter weather conditions for Indiana during the months of January and February 2019.
Interest expense decreased from $122,000 to $121,000.
Travel expenses decreased from 2.7%5.4% of total revenue to 0.7%4.3% of total revenue for the three-month period ended March 31, 20182019 compared to the corresponding period in 2017. Travel expense decreased from $60,000 to $22,000 as a result of openings, occurring closer to the home office, which reduced travel expenses related to opening supervision and training.
Other operating expenses decreased from 9.0% of total revenue to 8.1% of total revenue, for the three-month period ended March 31, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017. Operating expenses increased from $199,000 to $238,000.
Restaurant expenses – Craft Pizza & Pub were $865,000 in the three-month period ended March 31, 2018 compared to $213,000 for the comparable period in 2017. This increase reflected the growth in Craft Pizza & Pub locations. The first unit opened on January 31, 2017, the second unit on November 17, 2017 and a third unit on January 18, 2018.
Restaurant expenses – Company operated non-traditional decreased from 12.4% of total revenue to 9.6% of total revenue for the three-month period ended March 31, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017. The reason for the decrease was the increase in total revenue partially offset by a $10,000 increase in expenses primarily due to increased sales.
General and administrative expenses decreased from 18.3% of total revenue to 12.9% of total revenue for the three-month period ended March 31, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017. General and administrative expenses decreased from $404,000 to $382,000. The percentage decrease was largely a result of the revenue increase and the decrease in expenses was a result of tightly controlling general and administrative expenses.
Total expenses increased from 70.7% of total revenue to 76.3% of total revenue for the three-month period ended March 31, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017. Total expenses increased from $1.6 million to $2.3 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017. This increase in expenses was primarily the result of adding additional Craft Pizza & Pub locations.
Operating income decreased from 29.3% of total revenue to 23.7% of total revenue for the three-month period ended March 31, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017. Operating income increased from $649,000 to $699,000 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017. Operating income decreased as a percentage of total revenue as a result of adding Craft Pizza & Pub locations which increased the gross profit but at a lesser margin than other operations that generate primarily fee income.

Interest expense decreased from 14.5% of total revenue$160,000 to 5.4% of total revenue for the three-month period ended March 31, 2018 compared to the corresponding period in 2017. Interest expense decreased from $321,000 to $160,000.$127,000. The primary reason for the decrease was the refinancingcontinuing monthly payments of principal on the bank loans, and the conversion of $450,000 principal amounts of its subordinated convertible debt in September 2017, as a result of whichto common stock, partially offset by the Company repaid very expensive debt and replaced it with bank financing (with theincreased interest rate at LIBOR plus 4.25%). Cash interest duringon the three-month period ended March 31, 2018 was $136,000.
In July 2017,Company's variable rate loans on the FASB issued ASU 2017-11, which simplifies the accounting for certain accounting instruments with down-round features. This update changes the classification analysis of certain equity-linked financial instruments such as warrants and embedded conversion features such that a down-round feature is disregarded when assessing whether the instrument is indexed to an entity's own stock. As a result of this change in the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Company removed all of the derivative accounting from its financial statements resulting in a non-cash gain of $142,858, recognized as a cumulative adjustment to retained earnings on January 1, 2018 compared to a non-cash loss of $18,000 during the comparable period in 2017.bank debt.
 
Net income before income tax increased to $627,000 from $193,000 to $403,000$539,000 for the three-month period ended March 31, 20182019 compared to the corresponding period in 2017. This increase2018. Net income before taxes was primarilysignificant as the resultCompany will not pay any income taxes on approximately the next $15 million of taxable income.
Net income increased from $403,000 to $476,000 for the increased revenue fromthree-month period ended March 31, 2019 compared to the new Craft Pizza & Pub locations and a decreasecorresponding period in interest cost partially offset by an increase in salaries and wages to create more capacity for franchise sales.2018.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
The Company’s strategy in past years has beenis to grow its business by concentrating on franchising/licensing non-traditional locations, including grocery store delis to sell take-n-bake pizza. This strategy was intended to not require significant increase in expenses. The focus on franchising/licensing non-traditional locations will continue to be the a primary element of the Company’s strategy but, in addition, over the past two years the Company has been developing a major business initiative by re-designing and re-positioningfranchising its updated stand-alone franchise for the next generation stand-alone prototype called “Noble Roman’s Craft Pizza & Pub.” As a result, the Company opened its firstconcept, Craft Pizza & Pub on January 31, 2017, the second on November 17, 2017,and operating a third on January 18, 2018. A fourth location is under development with plans to open in late May 2018. The Company may open up to two additionallimited number of Company-owned Craft Pizza & Pub locations,restaurants. The Company currently owns and has commenced efforts to franchiseoperates four Craft Pizza & Pub locations of which two were opened in certain areas, as well.2017 and two were opened in 2018. The Company is currently considering opening a few additional Craft Pizza & Pub locations over the next 18 months.
During 2018, the Company invested resources (approximately $300,000) to commence franchising of the Craft Pizza & Pub franchise. The Company's first franchised Craft Pizza & Pub location opened on May 2, 2019, a second location is under development for an expected opening in the Fall of 2019 and another franchise agreement was recently signed.
 
The Company is operating threeone non-traditional locationslocation in a hospital and does not intend to operatehas no plans for operating any additional non-traditional locations.
 
The Company’s current ratio was 2.6-to-12.3-to-1 as of March 31, 20182019 compared to 2.6-to-12.4-to-1 as of December 31, 2017.2018.

 
In January 2017, the Company completed the Offering in the amountoffering of $2.4 million principal amount of Notesconvertible subordinated notes convertible to common stock at $.50 per share and Warrantsdue three years after issue date (the "Notes") and warrants to purchase up to 2.4 million shares of the Company’s common stock. The Company used the net proceedsstock at an exercise price of the Notes$1.00 per share, subject to fund the opening of a Noble Roman’s Craft Pizza & Pub restaurant and for general corporate purposes. In February 2018, one of thoseadjustment (the "Warrants"). Notes in the principal amount of $100,000 was$450,000 have been converted into 200,000to 800,000 shares of Noble Roman's common stock and in April 2018, another Notethe holders of the Notes in the principal amount of $100,000 was$650,000 have extended the maturity of their Notes to January 2023. The Company's loan agreement with the Bank (as defined below) prohibits the Company from repaying any of the Notes until the senior debt is paid in full, however the loan agreement allows Note holders to convert the Notes to common stock at any time in accordance with the terms of the Notes. The remaining Notes that mature in 2019 and 2020 must either be converted into 200,000 sharesto common stock, extended beyond the maturity of Noble Roman's common stock.the senior debt or replaced with other like securities. The Company may not be able to accomplish any of those alternatives. If the Notes mature and the Company does not pay amounts due, it would cause a cross-default under the Agreement. The Company intends to extend or refinance with external capital the Notes maturing in 2019 and 2020. However, the Company may not be able to refinance its debt or sell additional debt or equity securities on favorable terms, or at all.
 

OnIn September 13, 2017, the Company entered into a loan agreement (the “Agreement”“Loan Agreement”) with First Financial Bank (the “Bank”). The Loan Agreement provides for a senior credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) byfrom the Bank consisting of: (1) a term loan in the amount of $4.5 million (the “Term Loan”); and (2) a development line of credit of up to $1.6 million (the “Development Line of Credit”). for the opening of three Craft Pizza & Pub restaurants. Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest at a variable annual rate equal to the London Interbank Offer Rate (“LIBOR”) plus 4.25%. All outstanding amounts owed under the Loan Agreement mature onin September 13, 2022.
Proceeds The balance of the Term Loan were used to repay the Company’s existing indebtedness to BMO Harris Bank, Super G Capital, LLC, and certain officers of the Company, to pay certain expenses related to the Credit Facility and for general corporate purposes.as of March 31, 2019 was $4.9 million.
 
ThePrior to December 31, 2018, the Company hashad drawn the full $1.6 million available under the Development Line of Credit to build outdevelop three new locations of Noble Roman’s Craft Pizza & Pub. As of March 31, 2018, the Company had drawn $1.1 million of the Development Line of Credit used in the development of the Craft Pizza & Pubs that opened in November 2017, and January 2018 and the remaining $500,000 in April and May 2018.June 2018, respectively. Repayment of the Development Line of Credit beginsbegan four months following the final draw for each location in monthly installments on a seven-year principal amortization schedule plus interest at the rate of LIBOR plus 4.25%, with the balance due in September 2022.
 
The Loan Agreement contains affirmative and negative covenants, including, among other things, covenants requiring the Company to maintain certain financial ratios. The Company’s obligations under the Loan Agreement are secured by first priority liens on all of the Company’s assets and a pledge of all of the Company’s equity interest in suchits subsidiaries. In addition, Paul W. Mobley, the Company’s Executive Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, executed a limited guarantee only of borrowings under the Development Line of Credit which is to be released upon achieving certain financial ratios by the Company'sCompany’s Craft Pizza & Pub locations. The Company was in complianceis currently seeking to resolve a disagreement with the covenants asBank regarding the interpretation of March 31, 2018.
The refinancing, as described above, substantially lowered the Company's debt service requirement and cash interest expense. The Company will need to refinance the subordinated debtcertain financial covenants in the principal amount of $2.2 million at its maturity at the end of 2019 if it is still outstanding.Loan Agreement.
 
As a result of the financial arrangements described above and the Company’s cash flow projections, the Company believes it will have sufficient cash flow to meet its obligations and to carry out its current business plan for the next 12 months.months, subject to the Company’s obtaining of external financing to refinance the $1.3 million of Notes maturing in 2019 and 2020. The Company’s cash flow projections for the next two years are primarily based on the Company’s strategy of growing the non-traditional franchising/licensing venues, operating the open Craft Pizza & Pub locations the plans to open another Craft Pizza & Pub location in May 2018, plus launching an aggressiveand pursuing a franchising program for Noble Roman’s Craft Pizza & Pub restaurants. Subject to availability of financing, the Company intends to open additional Company-owned Craft Pizza & Pub restaurants in the future. Any additional location would likely require the Company to secure financing from external funding sources, which may not be available on favorable terms, if at all.
  
The Company does not anticipate that any of the recently issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards will have a material impact on its Consolidated Statement of Operations or its Consolidated Balance Sheet except:
Sheet. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, its leasing standard for both lessees and lessors. Under its core principle, a lessee will recognizerecognizes operating lease assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for all arrangements with terms longer than 12 months. TheThis new standard takestook effect inon January 1, 2019 for public business entities.

The Company does not believe these accounting pronouncements will have a material adverse effect on itsentities and are reflected in the financial condition or results of operations.statements included herein.
 
Forward-Looking Statements
 
The statements contained above in Management’s Discussion and Analysis concerning the Company’s future revenues, profitability, financial resources, market demand and product development are forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) relating to the Company that are based on the beliefs of the management of the Company, as well as assumptions and estimates made by and information currently available to the Company’s management. The Company’s actual results in the future may differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company’s operations and business environment, including, but not limited to: resolution of a disagreement with the Bank over the interpretation of certain financial covenants and/or the Company's ability to service or refinance its debt, competitive factors and pricing pressures, non-renewal of franchise agreements, shifts in market demand, the success of new franchise programs, including the new Noble Roman’s Craft Pizza & Pub format, the Company’s ability to successfully operate an increased number of Company-owned restaurants, general economic conditions, changes in demand for the Company’s products or franchises, the Company’s ability to service and refinance its loans, the impact of franchise regulation, the success or failure of individual franchisees and changes in prices or supplies of food ingredients and labor as well as the factors discussed under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.2018. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions or estimates prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected or intended.
 
ITEMITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 
The Company’s exposure to interest rate risk relates primarily to its variable-rate debt. As of March 31, 2018,2019, the Company had outstanding variable interest-bearing debt in the aggregate principal amount of $4.8$4.9 million. The Company’s current borrowings are at a variable rate tied to LIBOR plus 4.25% per annum adjusted on a monthly basis. Based on its current debt structure, for each 1% increase in LIBOR the Company would incur increased interest expense of approximately $50,000$46,000 over the succeeding 12-month period.
 

ITEMITEM 4. Controls and Procedures
 
Based on their evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this report, A. Scott Mobley, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and Paul W. Mobley, the Company’s Executive Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) are effective. There have been no changes in internal controls over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
 

PART
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEMITEM 1. Legal Proceedings.
 
The Company is not involved in material litigation against it.
 
ITEMITEM 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
 
NoneNone.
 
..
ITEM 6. Exhibits.
 
 

ITEM 6. Exhibits
 
Index to Exhibits
 
Exhibit Number
Description
Exhibit NumberDescription
3.1Amended Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant, filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Amendment No. 1 to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed July 1, 1985 (SEC File No.2-84150), is incorporated herein by reference.
Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant, as currently in effect, filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed December 23, 2009, is incorporated herein by reference.
3.3Articles of Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant effective February 18, 1992 filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (SEC File No. 33-66850), ordered effective on October 26, 1993, is incorporated herein by reference.
Articles of Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant effective May 11, 2000, filed as Annex A and Annex B to the Registrant’s Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed March 28, 2000, is incorporated herein by reference.
Articles of Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant effective April 16, 2001 filed as Exhibit 3.4 to Registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, is incorporated herein by reference.
Articles of Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant effective August 23, 2005, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed August 29, 2005, is incorporated herein by reference.
Articles of Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant effective February 7, 2017, filed as Exhibit 3.7 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 33-217442) filed April 25, 2017, is incorporated herein by reference.
4.1Specimen Common Stock Certificates filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-18 filed October 22, 1982 and ordered effective on December 14, 1982 (SEC File No. 2-79963C), is incorporated herein by reference.
Warrant to purchase common stock, dated July 1, 2015, filed as Exhibit 10.11 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q filed on August 11, 2015, is incorporated herein by reference.
Employment Agreement with Paul W. Mobley dated January 2, 1999 filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, is incorporated herein by reference.

Employment Agreement with A. Scott Mobley dated January 2, 1999 filed as Exhibit 10.2 to Registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, is incorporated herein by reference.
Loan Agreement dated as of September 13, 2017 by and between the Registrant and First Financial, filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Form 8-K filed September 19, 2017, is incorporated herein by reference.
Term note dated September 13, 2017 to First Financial Bank filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant's Form 10-Q filed November 14, 2017, is incorporated herein by reference.
Development line note dated September 13, 2017 to First Financial Bank filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant's Form 10-Q filed November 14, 2017, is incorporated herein by reference.
Agreement dated April 8, 2015, by and among the Registrant and the shareholder parties, filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on April 8, 2015, is incorporated herein by reference.
Form of 10% Convertible Subordinated Unsecured note filed as Exhibit 10.16 to the Registrant's Form 10-K filed on March 27, 2017, is incorporated herein by reference.
Form of Redeemable Common Stock Purchase Class A Warrant filed as Exhibit 10.21 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 33-217442) on April 25, 2017, is incorporated herein by reference.
Registration Rights Agreement dated October 13, 2016, by and among the Registrant and the investors signatory thereto, filed as Exhibit 10.22 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 33-217442) on April 25, 2017, is incorporated herein by reference.
First Amendment to the Registration Rights Agreement dated February 13, 2017, by and among the Registrant and the investors signatory thereto, filed as Exhibit 10.23 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 33-217442) on April 25, 2017, is incorporated herein by reference.reference
21.1
Subsidiaries of the Registrant filed in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (SEC File No. 33-66850) ordered effective on October 26, 1993, is incorporated herein by reference.
C.E.O. Certification under Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
C.F.O. Certification under Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
C.E.O. Certification under 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
C.F.O. Certification under 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
101
31.1           C.E.O. Certification under Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
31.2           C.F.O. Certification under Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
32.1           C.E.O. Certification under 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
32.2           C.F.O. Certification under 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
101           Interactive Financial Data
 
*Management contract or compensation plan.
 


 
SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 NOBLE ROMAN'S, INC.
 
    
Date:May 15, 2018
2019
By:  
/s/Paul W. Mobley

 
  Paul W. Mobley
 
  
Executive Chairman, Chief Financial Officer and Principal AccountingOfficer (Authorized Officerofficer and Principal FinancialOfficer)

 

 
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